The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-10
no treasure yer, onless 1t was brought insS


pay three times the value Of the ship
today il he were not positive! And that
positive knowledge was gained last night
by the villain who broke into the Pontiac
no doubt the Lascar."
surely, said Mott, meditatively. "The
Lascar! There's suthin' in that That
Lascar fastened down in the hold last
night unbekownst TO you, Mr.. Renshaw,
and let him out again this morning ekally
unbeknownst."
"And you let him carry his informa-
ton TO Sleight-without word" said
Renshaw, with sickening sense Of Motifs
utter faulty.
~ sent him back with message to the
man he KEN from" said Mott, winking
both his eyes at Renshaw Significantly,
and making signs behind his daughters
back.
Rosey, conscious of her lovers irrita-
ton, and more eager to soothe his i'm
patience than from any faith in her sug-
gestion, interfered. "Why not examine
the place where he was concealed he may
have left some traces Of his search"
The two men looked at each other.
''Seein' ex I've turned the Pontiac over to
Sleight jist e. it stands, don't know ez
it's 'zactly on the square," said Mott
doubtfully.
you've a right to know at least what
you deliver TO him." interrupted Renshaw
brusquely. Bring lantern"
Followed by Rosey, Renshaw and Mott
hurriedly sought the lower deck and the
open hatch of the forehold. The two
men leaped down first with the lantern,
and then assisted ROsey to descend. Rem
shaw took step forward and uttered
q cry.
The rays Of the lantern fell on the ships
side. The Lascar had, during his forced
seclusion, put back the boxes Of treasure
and replaced the planking, yet not so care
fully but that the quick eye of Renshaw
had discovered it. The next moment he
had stripped away the planking again,
and the hurriedly restored box which the
Lascar had found fell to the deck, scat
tering part Of its ringing contents, Rosey
turned pale; Renshaw's eyes flashed fire;
only Abner Mott remained quiet and i'm
passive.
care you satisfied you have been
dupedr' said Renshaw passionately
To their surprise Mr.. Mott stopped
down, and picking up one of the coins
handed it gravely to Renshaw. Would
We mind heftin' that ere coin in your
hand-feeln' it, bitin' 1t, scrapin 1t with
knife, and kinder. SEEM how il com
pares with other coinsi"
What do you mean" said Renshaw.
II mean that that yer coin-that all
the coins in this yer box, that all the coins
in them other boxes-and theirs forty on
'em-is all and every one Of 'em counter
feits!"
The piece dropped unconsciously from
Renshaw's hand, and striking another
that lay on the deck gave out dull, sus-
picious ring.
"They waz counterfeits got up by them
Dutch supercargo sharps for dealin' with
the Injins and cannibals and South sea
stone. II satisfied them ez well ez them
buttons 20 puts in missionary boxes, !
reckon, and 'cepting ez freight, don't cost
nothin'. found em tucked in the ribs
o. the old Pontiac when bought her, and
nailed 'em up in thar lest they should
fall into dishonest hands. It's lucky
thing, Mr. Renshaw, that they comes into
the honest fingers Of square man like
Sleight-ain't it,"
He turned his small guileless eyes upon
Renshaw with such chldlike simplicity
that it checked the hysterical laugh that
was rising to the young mans lips,
''But did any one know of this but
YOURSELF
81 reckon not. ! once suspicioned that
old Capen Bowers, who was always fool
in round the hold yer, must hev noticed
the bulge in the casin', but when he took
to akin questions axed others--ye know
my style, Roseys Come"
He led the way grimly back to the
cabin, the young people following; but
turning suddenly at the companion way
he observed Renshaw's arm around the
waist Of his daughter. He said nothing
uhtIl NuSy bh' iSu&hNu WIG Nupiii, "hSh
ne closed the door softly, and looking ut
them both gently, said with infinite cum
ming:
"Ef it isn't too late, Rosey, ye kin tell
this young man eZ how | forgive him for
havin' diskivered The Treasure Of the
Pontiac"
1t was nearly eighteen months after
wards that Mr.. Mott one morning entered
the room Of his son-in-law ut Madrono
Cottage Drawing him aside, he said with
his old air of mystery: Now ez Rosey's
ailin' and don't seem to be so eager to dis
kiver what's become of Mr.. Eerrers, don't
mind tellin' ye that over year ago heard
he died suddenly in Sacramento. Thar
was suthin in the paper about his bein'
lunatic and claimin' 10 be relation TO
somebody on the Pontiac; but likes eZ not
it's only the way those newspaper fellows
got hold Of the story Of his wantin' TO
marry Rosey.'
THE END.
First Impressions Of Holland.
First impressions are the most striking,